Waste plant plan splits the council, UK

Plans for a multi-million pound fuel processing plant in Westbury, UK have received mixed reviews from councillors.

Hills Minerals and Waste Ltd are planning to build a £15m Mechanical Biological Treatment plant (MBT) on the Northacre Industrial Park, Westbury, near to residents and Westbury Dairies.

A majority of six town councillors supported the application at a Westbury Town Council planning meeting on Monday, while three voted against.

Cllr Russell Hawker, who voted against it, said: "It’s the principal not just of the adverse affects on the dairy, but that this is the wrong location. The plant should be on the Lafarge site."

MBT uses natural microbes within the waste to accelerate the decomposition process and once dried the final material can be safely handled, and in this case will be used as a fuel by LafargeCement Works in Westbury.

Westbury Dairies, which would share the Northacre site with the plant, if approved, have submitted their detailed objection over concerns that it would be highly inappropriate’ to have the facility next to a food manufacturing plant.

Westbury MP Dr Andrew Murrison has met George Batten, the director of Environmental Services at Wiltshire County Council, Cllr Fleur De Rhe Phillipe, WCC cabinet member for Transport, Andy Conn, WCC cabinet member for Waste, and West Wiltshire District Councillor David Jenkins, to discuss the proposed plant.

"I signalled Lafarge as a possible site, which would make more sense as Lafarge are going to be using the plant, but I don’t think they were very responsive to that suggestion," said Cllr David Jenkins.